Lakers fight off Clippers, end losing streak

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum celebrates with Pau Gasol after being fouled by the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, right, in the final moments of the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LOS ANGELES – The Lakers were afraid to lose their fourth consecutive game under first-year coach Mike Brown. They were also hungry to win their 10th consecutive home game when facing their now-rising intra-city rivals.

The two-pronged motivation triggered to an inspired effort Wednesday night at Staples Center in the Lakers’ 96-91 victory over the Clippers.

Just 11 days ago, the Clippers had downed the Lakers and started the Lakers’ spiral via double-team defenses on Kobe Bryant in the fourth quarter left the Lakers in disarray.

This time, the Lakers concentrated on having Bryant pass out of the Clippers’ traps while Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum were more driven to score. The result was rare balanced scoring from the Lakers: 24 from Bryant, 23 from Gasol and 19 from Bynum, who capped the Lakers’ strong fourth quarter with a bank shot off a Bryant pass and then a block of DeAndre Jordan at the other end.

The NBA’s worst long-distance shooting team so far, the Lakers also became 3-point threats again in making 8 of 16 3-point attempts — three by Derek Fisher and two by upstart rookie backup Andrew Goudelock.

Metta World Peace also re-emerged as a factor, logging 38 minutes and leading the team with seven assists — and helping the Lakers’ be more physical and feisty in a game that featured six technicals and Gasol and Chris Paul upset with each other in the final seconds.

Gasol was eager to re-establish his offense and scored 17 first-half points. He was often on the wrong side of the highlight reel in the second half, though.

Gasol had one nifty block against Blake Griffin in isolation, but Griffin came back with an innovative spinning, hanging layup in the lane over Gasol and then a stunning tip-dunk while Gasol was locked up trying to box out DeAndre Jordan because Andrew Bynum had drifted to the other side of the lane.

But Griffin stepped out of bounds with 48.3 seconds left before he could attempt a potential tying shot with the Lakers ahead, 89-87. He finished with 24 points and nine rebounds.

Paul came back from his hamstring injury after a five-game layoff and had four points on 2-of-8 shooting with 11 assists for the clippers.

The Lakers hope they have an offensive spark going forward in Goudelock, who played ahead of fellow rookie Darius Morris for the first time Wednesday night and had 14 points in 20 minutes. The Lakers have been sorely disappointed in the instability caused by Morris replacing injured point guard Steve Blake in the rotation.

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum celebrates with Pau Gasol after being fouled by the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, right, in the final moments of the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Metta World Peace celebrates with teammates during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Josh McRoberts is ejected after receiving his second technical foul during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol tries to get past the Clippers defense during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant looks to pass past the Clippers' Caron Butler, left, and Blake Griffin during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lakers coach Mike Brown argues a technical foul on Kobe Bryant during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol and Josh McRoberts defend the Clippers' Solomon Jones during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Josh McRoberts argues with the Clippers' Reggie Evans before being ejected during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Andrew Goudelock tries to defend the Clippers' Chris Paul during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant is fouled by the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin scores over the Lakers' Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Laker Girls perform during a time-out of the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin dunks past the Lakers' Pau Gasol during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
David Beckham watches the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant passes the ball between the Clippers' Blake Griffin, left, and Chauncey Billups during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lakers coach Mike Brown yells at an official during the first half against the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Devin Ebanks blcoks a shot by the Clippers' Randy Foye during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin gets past the Lakers' Andrew Bynum for a first-half dunk Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' bench celebrates a Caron Butler three-pointer during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Andrew Bynum dunks over the Clippers' Caron Butler during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Devin Ebanks and Josh McRoberts defend the Clippers Caron Butler during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant screams in frustration after picking up a foul agaisnt the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Chauncey Billups drives to the hoop past the Lakers' Metta World Peace, left, and Andrew Bynum during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Andrew Bynum gets a finger on thsi shot by the Clippers' Chauncey Billups during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol battles for a loos ball with the Clippers' Blake Griffin as Chris Paul helps defend during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin dunks two of his first half points against the Lakers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Metta World Peace blocks a shot by the Clippers' Chris Paul as Derek Fisher helps defend during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Andrew Bynum is fouled by the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan in the final moments of the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Andrew Goudelock scores over the Clippers' Mo Williams after he slipped during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant almost turns the ball over under pressure from the Clippers' Caron Butler as Blake Griffin helps defend during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol is fouled by the Clippers' Reggie Evans during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant questions a technical foul during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant smother the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Pau Gasol questions a technical foul during the first half against the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' Blake Griffin gets past the Lakers' Andrew Bynum for a first-half dunk as Kobe Bryant and DeAndre Jordan watch Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Devin Ebanks gets a shot off past the Clippers' Mo Williams, left, and Solomon Jones during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Derek Fisher back-pedals away from the Clippers' Chris Paul during the first half Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lakers head coach Mike Brown doesn't look pleased at his team's slow start against the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, right, picks upa foul on the Lakers' Andrew Bynum as Pau Gasol and Reggie Evans battle for position in the background Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lakers coach Chuck Pearson gives Kobe Bryant some instruction during the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Mark McGrath and Joseph Nichol better known as McG, watch the Lakers' 96-91 victory over the Clippers Wednesday night behond head coach Mike Brown. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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